Truc Lam Zen Monastery is one of the most special architecture constructions of the Buddhist Sangha of Dalat. This monastery is located on the top of Phung Hoang mountain and next to Tuyen Lam lake. Standing here – on mount Phung Hoang, you can admire the whole outstanding panorama of Tuyen Lam lake.
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Introducing Truc Lam Phung Hoang zen monastery
Truc Lam Phung Hoang is one of the three biggest zen monasteries in Vietnam. It is a Zen temple of Truc Lam Yen Tu sect, including two other biggest temples: Truc Lam Phuong Nam in Can Tho province and Truc Lam in Ha Noi. The place was started construction from 1993 and finished after a year. Located about 5km from the city center, this tourist attraction is close to Tuyen Lam lake.
History
There was a story about Thich Thanh Tu – a Vietnamese Zen buddhist monk. In the past, he dreamed about hugging the neck of a phoenix. Then the phoenix took him to the Sukhavati – the home of Gautama Buddha. When he wook up, he had a thought that he could create a place like Sukhavati. Then he started to find, he found a land on the top of Phung Hoang mountain. A beautiful and tranquil land surround by vast pine forest – ideal place to lead a religious life.
The place was started construction in 1993 and finished after a year. This monastery was designed by some of the best architectures like Vu Xuan Hung, Tran Duc Loc and the best architecture at the time – Ngo Viet Thu. The person who designed Independence Palace also known as Reunification Palace in Ho Chi Minh city.
Overall architecture
The temple is divided into 2 main areas, the domestic areas and public area. The public area encompasses the constructions such as great hall and Tinh Tam lake. The domestic area is closed to the public. There are two domestic quarters, for monks and nuns respectively.
The great hall has an acreage of around 192 m2. In the middle of the hall, there is a statue of Gautama Buddha with the height of 2 meters. On the outside, there are a drum tower and a bell tower. Inside the bell tower, there is a great bell weighed up to 1,1 ton.
If you want something more “nature”, you can visit the flower garden. I highly recommend you to come here and admire the beauty. Many sorts of amazing flowers like hydrangea, scarlet sage, etc. Especially, there is an outstanding jade vine truss, you will be stunned by its beauty!
And the last part of the public area is Tinh Tam lake. The people here are raising and protecting many types of endangered turtle.
Information about Truc Lam Zen Monastery
Below is some useful information that you need to know about this famous monastery.
Address
Truc Lam Yen Tu, ward 3, Dalat city, Lam Dong province.
Opening hours
Opening hours: from 5:00 am to 9:00 pm daily.
If you want to stay here, you can ask the monks or nuns or abbot of the temple.
Entrance ticket
Because this is a sacred place, you don’t have to worry about the entrance ticket. Everybody can visit this monastery at any time without being charged.
Cable car
This is the unique characteristic of this temple – a cable car system conect Robin hill and Truc Lam zen monastery. The ticket price of the cable car is 50.000 VND for a one-way ticket and 70.000 VND for a round-trip ticket. Or you can also get here by car or motorbike.
Google maps Truc Lam zen monastery
Below is the map showing driving directions from Dalat market to Truc Lam meditation center:
Truc Lam zen monastery review:
Here are some review of tourists about Truc Lam zen monastery on Google. You can also refer to other reviews on other networking sites.
Tourist attractions nearby
After visit Truc Lam, you can take time to visit the following tourist attractions:
- Datanla waterfall
- Tuyen Lam lake
- Clay tunnel
- Dalat cable car
Other famous pagodas and temples
- Chinese pagoda
- Linh Phuoc pagoda
- Van Hanh monastery
- Linh Son pagoda
Rules of Truc Lam
Below are the rules of the temple:
Photos of Truc Lam zen monastery
Below are some pictures that’s been taken by tourists:
Tours
If you want to book a tour to visit Truc Lam meditation center. You can contact Hoa Dalat Travel immediately via hotline 079. 215.8486.
Dalat inner city tour, ticket price: 130.000 VND. You will visit the following tourist attractions:
- King Palace 1
- Dalat cable car (self-sufficient)
- Dalat chicken church
- Truc Lam zen monastery
- Tuyen Lam lake
- Datanla waterfall
- US dry showroom
- Van Hanh monastery
Forest Ghost Inn – Cu Lan village – Clay tunne Tour
Tour price: 350.000 VND, you will visit the following tourist attractions:
- Forest ghost inn
- Cu Lan village
- Clay tunnel
- Truc Lam zen monastery
- Tuyen Lam lake
- Linh Phuoc Pagoda (Ve Chai pagoda)
Hoa Dalat Travel also organizes so many other tours. So if you want to know more information please contact us via hotline 079.215.8486.
Finally, thank you for your interest in our article about Truc Lam Zen Monastery. Wish you have a most beautiful and memorable trip to Dalat city!